Weld County official warns of deed scam

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A company claiming to deal in deed processing has been contacting Weld County residents with false claims about deed purchases, according to a Weld official.

Tony Trevino, deputy clerk and outreach coordinator for the Weld County Clerk’s Office, said his office has seen a spike in calls and visits from residents who have been contacted by a South Dakota company named Registered Property Services attempting to sell them copies of deeds for their property.

Trevino said the company sends residents a letter that appears to be an official notice from the county asking them to send in $80 or more to obtain a copy of their deed.

However, Trevino said no such purchase is necessary.

“Our office returns the original deed to the property to the owner once it has been recorded with our office,” he said. “There is no need for them to purchase a copy from a ‘deed processing company.’ “

Deeds are initially given to residents by the title company when a transaction is closed, Trevino said. Residents may obtain a copy of their deed from the county for about 25 cents per page, or $1.25 per page if the resident wishes the copy to be certified.

“It’s bizarre,” Trevino said. “I purchased a home in January and received one of these letters myself. I just sort of tossed it aside as junk mail but, if you were to just read the top of it, you’d think it was an official notice from our office.”

Trevino said the clerk’s office has not begun an investigation into the company or the letters, and they’re not sure how the company is obtaining some of the information displayed in the letters. He said the office has seen an increase in requests for deeds and copies of deeds, but he said it’s tough to know if it’s because of the letters.

“Something is going on, and we just thought this was something residents should be aware of,” he said. “It’s wrong, and it’s unfortunate there are companies out there trying to make a dollar this way.”

For more information about the scam or deeds, call the Weld County Clerk and Recorder’s Office at (970) 304-6530.